Macross / Robotech episode 1 CG progress

Hello again, just thought I would post some more progress on my CG remake of episode 1 for Robotech. I had posted my VF-1 last time. Well I decided that instead of going right to mapping it, I would take a break from it for a bit and start modeling my SDF-1. Here is what I have so far. I know the proportions are a little off, and a few of the minor detailes are different, but I want to give this thing a whole lotta detail, and frankly, most of the shots in the show, the details are kinda bland, so I kinda made some of them up as I went along. ( I still have some fine detail to put on the hull for my final detail pass.)
Going to start blocking out Macross city and the air basearound it next. Any feedback welcome. Thanks!

I've got no idea what it takes to do this kind of work but it looks impressive to me. Kinda sleek. If you want an idea on detail one of the members here used to work on the RT comics (IIRC) and was selling ULTRA detailed drawings he had done. There's probably some sort of search you can do to find that thread and see the stuff he came up with.

Really great job so far regardless of the proportions. You've captured quite well the design and the smoothness that you've added works very well, though it may come back to bit you in the end.

What is your poly count so far and are you wroking in Cinema or Max? Also just how much detail are you planning to give her because several of us have the Perfect Memory(pages 139-141) book which has some EXCELLENT examples of surface detail.

Really great job so far regardless of the proportions. You've captured quite well the design and the smoothness that you've added works very well, though it may come back to bit you in the end.

What is your poly count so far and are you wroking in Cinema or Max? Also just how much detail are you planning to give her because several of us have the Perfect Memory(pages 139-141) book which has some EXCELLENT examples of surface detail.

Keep us updated on your progress!!!

Chrono,Are you up for emailing some scans? I have most of the SDF ref materia that's on the web. I went out and bought Design Works to trick out my valk. I know these kind of books are a godsend for canon fanatics.

Chrono,Are you up for emailing some scans? I have most of the SDF ref materia that's on the web. I went out and bought Design Works to trick out my valk. I know these kind of books are a godsend for canon fanatics.

Yeah I see what you mean. Virtually nothing on the english part of the web, including most of my reference sites, have those images. More then abit surprising given just how many scans that have been taken from PM! So yeah I'll dig out my scanner and get them loaded up to the net. I'll post links so everyone can grab them instead.

Thanks all for the feedback. Sorry it took so long to reply back, been really busy lately. For those of you wondering, I am working in 3dsmax 7 with Brazil for rendering. ( Love Brazil's rendering quality, but it's sooooo SLOOOOWWWW! ) In a couple of years when I finish this project, it's gonna take a couple more years just to render it! ( Guess I gotta go buy myself a render farm! ) Thanks to all those who posted reference images, they are helping alot! Any more would be greatly appreciated. Started blocking out macross city around the ship, should have some updates in the next week or two. In the meantime, here are a few more renders in it's current state.

This is one fine rendition of the SDF-1 Macross. This interpretation is somewhat more smooth and ovate than the actual lineart, but it's quite striking. It appears as a more Zentradi/Meltrandi design done this way, owing more to the smooth, organic nature of their ships. I have to say this is probably the most impressive CG model of the SDF-1 Macross I've ever seen. The detail and individualization you've given to the model really blows away any other work I've seen to date.

Mr March Posted Today, 03:39 PM This is one fine rendition of the SDF-1 Macross. This interpretation is somewhat more smooth and ovate than the actual lineart, but it's quite striking. It appears as a more Zentradi/Meltrandi design done this way, owing more to the smooth, organic nature of their ships. I have to say this is probably the most impressive CG model of the SDF-1 Macross I've ever seen. The detail and individualization you've given to the model really blows away any other work I've seen to date.

Wow! Thanks for the compliment. Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the direction I'm going with this. Wanted to give the whole ship a slightly more sleek / streamlined look, hence the less bulky proportions. Also, looking at several books and watching the show, there are horrible discrepencies in the proportions of the ship from one camera angle to another. So I had to just kinda pick one that was in between all the different proportions in the show, and then streamlined it just a bit. Anyhow, thanks again for the feedback, and there should be more updates coming soon.

Attached Files

I like this SDF-1 real real good its the best one I seen since Wolfs, just give it that "Macross Life" and that GC will look real nice. What I ment was put all the detail you can into it and make it look like the SDF-1 in color, detail, etc ya know what I mean but all I can say is .

Your nuts dude. I can totally appreciate the detail and time it took to build this. No matter how many or how few polys you've tweaked to make this come together, it paid off ... big time. Awesome work. I truly am speechless.

Always the critic ... I hope your texturing skills match your modeling. You are on a path for an insane model.

Definitely the best SDF-1 out there It's simply brilliant, oh the details...

SPEECHLESS, I'm dowright astonished I can't wait to see him place the Deadalus and Prometheus on the Macross. Jay-Lew you should consider selling you design to Yamato or work for them to design and create a SDF-1 Macross toy. One more question are you going to do an DYRL version? You are the man.

That SDF-1 looks so real to me it looks like a RL one. Im amazed to the little and extra details you made to it you got skill man you got skill. Try to color, shade , detail, and etc for the GC just dont lose your touch, I love how this is going so far. A DRYL version of this will I dunno Im speechless if that ever happens go for DRYL and your the "man"!! Can ya get pics of the main gun open?

I seldomly post in this part of the forum because I am a computer graphics illiterate. But this is by far THE best SDF-1 CG that I have ever seen. Really.....Thank you for sharing the picts,now if you'll excuse me I have to pick my jaw off the floor.

fart! That is awsome...very awsome work. I cant wait to see it in color. I think the smoothness you did kinda makes one things its a different ship. But im sure once you put the blue/white colors the ship will come back into its former glory. Its very awsome, a work of art. I think you have done a graet jobm cant wait to see more of the work.

Maybe when your done we can get some of the photoshop masters make it into an awsome wallpaper. Maybe a bird spective of the island and the SDF-1 right in the middle of it all.